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Computer Misuse Act 1990 (c. 18)E+W+S+N.I.

17In section 2 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 (unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences), for subsection (5) there is substituted—E+W+S+N.I.

“(5)A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—

(a)on summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;

(b)on summary conviction in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both;

(c)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine or to both.”

18In the heading to section 4 of that Act (territorial scope of offences under that Act), for “offences under this Act” there is substituted “ offences under sections 1 to 3 ”.E+W+S+N.I.

19(1)Section 5 of that Act (significant links with domestic jurisdiction) is amended as follows.E+W+S+N.I.

(2)In subsection (2), for paragraph (b) there is substituted—

“(b)that any computer containing any program or data to which the accused by doing that act secured or intended to secure unauthorised access, or enabled or intended to enable unauthorised access to be secured, was in the home country concerned at that time.”

(3)In subsection (3)—

(a)in paragraph (a), for “he did the act which caused the unauthorised modification” there is substituted “ he did the unauthorised act (or caused it to be done) ”;

(b)for paragraph (b) there is substituted—

“(b)that the unauthorised act was done in relation to a computer in the home country concerned.”

(a)in the heading, for “offences under this Act” there is substituted “ offences under sections 1 to 3 ”;

(b)in subsection (4), for “offence under this Act” there is substituted, in each place, “ offence under section 1, 2 or 3 above ”.

22In section 9 of that Act (British citizenship immaterial), in paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (2), for “offence under this Act” there is substituted “ offence under section 1, 2 or 3 above ”.E+W+S+N.I.

23Section 11 of that Act (proceedings for offences under section 1) is repealed.E+W+S+N.I.

24Section 12 of that Act (conviction of an offence under section 1 in proceedings for an offence under section 2 or 3) is repealed.E+W+S+N.I.

25(1)Section 13 of that Act (proceedings in Scotland) is amended as follows.E+W+S+N.I.

(2)In subsection (1), for paragraph (b) there is substituted—

“(b)any computer containing any program or data to which the accused by doing that act secured or intended to secure unauthorised access, or enabled or intended to enable unauthorised access to be secured, was in the sheriffdom at that time.”

(3)In subsection (2)—

(a)in paragraph (a), for “he did the act which caused the unauthorised modification” there is substituted “ he did the unauthorised act (or caused it to be done) ”;

(b)for paragraph (b) there is substituted—

“(b)the unauthorised act was done in relation to a computer in the sheriffdom.”

(4)Subsections (3) to (7) are omitted.

(5)In subsection (8), the words from “commenced” to the end are omitted.

26Section 14 of that Act (search warrants for offences under section 1) is repealed.E+W+S+N.I.

27(1)Section 16 of that Act (application to Northern Ireland) is amended as follows.E+W+S+N.I.

(2)After subsection (1) there is inserted—

“(1A)In section 1(3)(a)—

(a)the reference to England and Wales shall be read as a reference to Northern Ireland; and

(b)the reference to 12 months shall be read as a reference to six months.”

(3)After subsection (2) there is inserted—

“(2A)In section 2(5)(a)—

(a)the reference to England and Wales shall be read as a reference to Northern Ireland; and

(b)the reference to 12 months shall be read as a reference to six months.”

(4)Subsection (3) is omitted.

(5)Before subsection (4) there is inserted—

“(3A)In section 3(6)(a)—

(a)the reference to England and Wales shall be read as a reference to Northern Ireland; and

(b)the reference to 12 months shall be read as a reference to six months.”

(6)After the subsection inserted by sub-paragraph (5) there is inserted—

“(3B)In section 3A(5)(a)—

(a)the reference to England and Wales shall be read as a reference to Northern Ireland; and

(b)the reference to 12 months shall be read as a reference to six months.”

(7)Subsections (10), (11) and (12) are omitted.

28After that section there is inserted—E+W+S+N.I.

“16ANorthern Ireland: search warrants for offences under section 1

(1)Where a county court judge is satisfied by information on oath given by a constable that there are reasonable grounds for believing—

(a)that an offence under section 1 above has been or is about to be committed in any premises, and

(b)that evidence that such an offence has been or is about to be committed is in those premises,

he may issue a warrant authorising a constable to enter and search the premises, using such reasonable force as is necessary.

(2)The power conferred by subsection (1) above does not extend to authorising a search for material of the kinds mentioned in Article 11(2) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (privileged, excluded and special procedure material).

(3)A warrant under this section—

(a)may authorise persons to accompany any constable executing the warrant; and

(b)remains in force for twenty-eight days from the date of its issue.

(4)In exercising a warrant issued under this section a constable may seize an article if he reasonably believes that it is evidence that an offence under section 1 above has been or is about to be committed.

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